Oftentimes, fun is the primary word used to describe a film’s good effort despite falling short, or it’s a warning to “turn off your brain” and simply enjoy. Fun doesn’t mean what it once did.

I’m happy to report that despite its heavily debated creative direction, The Mandalorian & Grogu is a fun movie. Not the kind of fun that subtly damns a film with faint praise. It’s the kind of fun that reminds you why you fell in love with Star Wars.

I thought I was going to hate this movie because the trailers did nothing to get me excited. I learned ahead of time that the film is a self-contained adventure and does nothing to expand the sacred lore of a galaxy, far, far away.

It was a relief to know that in advance, because expecting a key ingredient only to find it missing would have left a bitter taste in my mouth. The film is an expanded standalone episode from the titular character’s Disney+ series.

The story follows Din Djarin, aka The Mandalorian, as he hunts leaders of the Imperial Remnant for the fledgling New Republic while mentoring his son and apprentice, Grogu. The Hutt Cartel offers the New Republic some vital intelligence, but only if Mando and Grogu rescue Rotta the Hutt, son of the late Jabba. The journey proves more than our heroes bargained for when treachery and peril test them like never before.

Continue reading “The Mandalorian & Grogu: A Fun Yet Flawed Adventure” →